Double pressure interdental wedge gum massager



Match 22; 1938.- w VOGAN 2,112,184

DOUBLE PRESSURE INTERDENTAL WEDGE GUM MASSAGER I Filed April 25, 1934Patented Mar. 22, 1938 DOLE PRESSURE INTERDENTAL WEDGE GUM MASSAGER JohnW. Vegan, Alvin, Tex.

Application April 23, 1934, Serial No. 722,004

7 9 Claims.

This invention appertains to'a double pressure interdental wedgemassager, and more particularly to the production of a simple andefficient massaging device for producing heavy intermittent pressurestarting at the crest of the gums at the-union of the inner and outersurfaces and extending root-wise for the purpose of assisting in thebuilding-up of the peridental tissues and creating a healthy conditionof the same.

One of the important objects of the invention is the production of asimple and efficient gum massaging device which is constructed for thepurpose of forcing a wedge or wedges in between the teeth to producepressure upon opposite sides of the gums at a point intermediate theteeth and thereby producing a pinching-like action.

A further object of this invention is the production of a simple andefficient massaging device which may be easily and convenientlysterilized and at the same time may be always in a proper condition forfacilitating the massaging of the gums, and more particularly produce adouble pressure upon opposite sides of the gum and provide aninter-dental massaging action upon the gums between the teeth to producea definite pressure upon the inter-dental tissues which are so difficultto massage.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appearthroughout the following specification and claims.

In the drawing:--

Figure l is a longitudinal sectional view through a pair of gummassaging devices showing the same in action and placed upon the thumband forefinger of the operators hand, and illustrating the manner inwhich the gums may be massaged between the teeth to reach the deepinter-dental tissues; V

Figure 2 is a section taken on line 2-2 of Figure 1; t

Figure 3 is a perspective viewgof one of the massaging devices; c

Figure 4 is a plan View of one of the massaging devices; 7 v

Figure 5 is a section taken-on line 5-5 of Figure 4;

Figure 6 isa longitudinal sectional view take on line 6-43 of Figure 4;c

Figure 7 is a perspective view of a modified form of the invention;

Figure 8 is a sectional View through a pair, of the massaging devicesshown in Figure '7;

Figure 9 is a section taken on line 9,9 of Figure 8; and

approximatelyright angles with respect to the Figure 10 is a perspectiveview of a modified form of the invention showing a finger cot providedwith a smooth cushioning pad of soft pliable rubber which,-When appliedto the gums, willcause a pinching action to be produced by 5 the fingersand cause a crowding, wedging action upon the gums.

By referring to the drawing, it will be seen that the inter-dental gummassaging device produces a double pressure action, preferably com- 10prising two similarly constructed massaging members which are preferablycarried by the thumb and forefinger of the operator. Each massagingdevice comprises a finger cot or tubular member in which is preferablyof sufl5 ficient length to fit over the outer end of the finger up toabout the second joint thereof. Along the inner face of the finger cotor tubular member is preferably formed a cushioning pad H which iseither constructed integrally, securely cemented, or otherwise securedto the inner face of the cot It, or inother words-upon the face whichwould normally correspond with the cushion part of thefinger. Thiscushion member H is preferably formed of compressible rubher and ispreferably oval in shape, as shown clearly in Figures 3 and 4 of thedrawing. The cushion pad is preferably approximately T33 of an inchthick in its center, and is gradually tapered off' toward its ends andsides to approximately of an inch, the edges i2 being abruptly curvedand preferably merging into the outer face of the cot ill, as shown inFigures 1 and 5. This pad is preferably approximately one inch long fromthe closed end of the cot, and is preferably of an inch thick at itscenter and approximately of aninch back from its closed end at adistance of approximately of an inch from which point it bevels offrapidly.

t a point about one-third of its length back 40 from the closed end ofthe thickened pad member H, and preferably projecting outwardly of andcrossing the cushion member H at an angle is arranged a two-point wedgeI3, the points l3a and i319 thereof being separated by means of aV-shaped notch it. This structure is clearly shown in Figures3 and 5 ofthe drawing. The outer faces I30 are inclined to provide thetransversely arranged tapering points Ilia and 53b and these outer facesmerge into the sides l2 of the longitudinal axis of the cot l and padportion I I. As previously explained, I preferably employ two of thesecots which are similarly constructed, one to fit upon the forefinger andthe other to fit upon the thumb in order that the user may place thefinger and thumb upon opposite sides of the gum so as to bring thewedge-shaped portion l3 into firm contact with the gum at a pointintermediate the teeth to produce a pinching action whereby pressure maybe exerted directly upon the inter-dental tissues, and by producing thispinching or squeezing action by drawing the thumb and forefingertogether into position, as shown in Figure 1, and massaging the gums atthis point between the teeth by a pressure massage, a healthycirculation of the blood will be created due to this massaging action,and the pinching pressure massaging action, acting directly upon thegums between the teeth, will permit the apices of the wedge shapedpoints l3 to reach down into the crevices between the teeth whereadequate pressure may be exerted on the deep inter-dental tissueslocated at this point.

It has long been recognized and at this time 'is considered a veryimportant element in peridental treatment, that the inter-dentaltissues, and particularly the deep inter-dental tissues, be reached inorder to properly strengthen and massage these deep inter-dental tissueswhich are found between the teeth. Consequently, the particular devicewhich is illustrated in the drawing and above described, is particularlyadapted for massaging the gums and permitting the user to reach thesedeep inter-dental tissues and thereby through a pinching pressuremassage set up the desired circulation essential to the healing andhealth of these deep inter-dental tissues which ordinarily cannot beproperly or conveniently reached.

Furthermore, the particular device which I have perfected and disclosedherein, may be used by an ordinary layman, and expert skilled orprofessional training is not necessary in order to manipulate the devicein an efficient manner, and obtain the desired results.

In Figures '7, 8 and 9, I have shown a slightly modified form of thepresent invention wherein a finger cot I5 is illustrated having athickened massaging pad l6 formed upon one side and located near theouter extremity of the cot in a position normally corresponding to thecushion part of the finger, this cushioning pad It being provided with asingle tapering wedge l'l located preferably at the longitudinal centerof the pad IS, the apex [8 extending transversely of the pad. In thepreferred embodiment, I have shown a twin or two-point wedge setcrosswise of the cot with a point to each side of the center, whereas inFigures 7, 8 and 9, I have shown a single wedge-shaped member upon eachcot, this latter illustration merely constituting a modified form, whichin some instances might be found to be preferable.

In Figure 10, I have shown a further modified form of my inventionwherein the finger cot I9 is provided with a cushion pad of soft orpliable rubber having a fiat outer face and capable of being pressedagainst the gums at a point between approximating teeth so as to permita part of the cushion pad to be forced down between the teeth for thepurpose of producing a crowding, pinching and wedging action.

It should be understood that any suitable or desired type ofcompressible rubber or other resilient material may be used in carryingout the present invention, or the rubber may be reinforced by fabric, orin any way treated to accomplish the desired results, but it should beunderstood that both the wedges, as well as the pad itself, should beformed of material sufficiently compressible to prevent any injury tothe gums While they are being massaged.

It should also be understood that certain detail changes may be employedin the mechanical construction without departing from the spirit of theinvention, so long as such changes fall within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having described the invention, what I claim as new is:--

1. An inter-dental tissue pressure massaging device comprising afinger-engaging means, and a soft pliable means projecting therefrom forconforming to the contour of the space between the approximating teethwhen pressure is exerted thereon to permit the massaging device to reachthe deep inter-dental tissues of the gums.

2. A device of the class described comprising a finger-engaging meanshaving a compressible rubber pad formed upon one side thereof, and asingle transverse tapering wedge-like portion projecting from the faceof the pad and intermediate the ends of the pad to permit of the wedgingof the wedge-like portion in between the teeth and (III conform to thecontour of the space between the teeth for creating a pressure upon thegums intermediate the roots of the teeth and permitting of a freemassaging inter-dental pressure massage action of the gums and deepinter-dental tissues.

3. A device of the class described comprising a finger cot, acompressible rubber pad formed upon one side of the cot, and a pair oflaterally projecting wedge-shaped points formed integral with said padand extending in transverse alignment with each other and transverselyacross the face of the pad to provide a single transversely extendingcompressible projection area from the face of said pad.

4. A device of the class described comprising a finger cot, a softpliable compressible pad formed upon one side of the cot, a singlerelatively wide wedge-shaped point projecting from one face of the padand formed integrally with the pad, and the apex of the wedge-shapedpoint extending transversely of the longitudinal axis of the pad andproviding a single compressible projection area extending above the faceof the pad.

5. A double pressure inter-dental gum massaging device comprising a pairof similarly constructed finger cots one being adapted to fit upon thethumb and the other upon the forefinger of the hand, each cot havingpliable and compressible projecting wedge-shaped massaging points formedupon their opposed faces, and the cots being adapted to engage the gumsin straddling relation one engaging the inner face and the other theouter face of the gum whereby a pinching pressure may be produced forforcing the wedge-shaped massaging points into pinching engagement withthe gums at a point between the teeth to provide a pinching inter-dentalpressure massaging action to reach the deep inter-dental tissues of thegums.

6. A double pressure inter-dental gum massaging device comprising a pairof cots similarly constructed and each having a pad upon its inner face,wedge-shaped points projecting from each pad at a point intermediate theends of the pad, the pad and points being formed of compressible rubber,the cots being adapted to engage the gums in straddling relation, onecot engaging the inner face and the other the outer face of the gumwhereby a pinching inter-dental pressure may be produced upon the gumsat a point between two approximating teeth to reach the deepinter-dental tissues of the gums and permit an efiicient massaging ofthe gums and interdental tissues thereof, the pad and points beingadapted to conform to the contour of the space between the teeth whenpressure is exerted upon the cots.

7. An inter-dental tissue massaging device comprising finger-engagingmeans, and a soft pliable pad formed upon said finger-engaging meanscapable of being forced and wedged in between the approximating teeth topermit of a pinching and massaging action to reach the deep inter-dentaltissues of the gums, the soft pliable pad being adapted to conform tothe contour of the space between the teeth when pressure is exerted uponthe finger-engaging means.

8. As a new article of manufacture, an interdental tissue pressuremassaging device comprising a finger-engaging means, and resilientcompressible means carried by the finger-engaging mean whereby saidresilient means may be forced between adjacent teeth by pressure of thefinger upon which the finger-engaging means is mounted and therebycreate a pressure longitudinally of the teeth from the crest of the gumsrootwise and consequently produce an effect upon the gums similar tothat produced when chewing coarse foods.

9. As a new article of manufacture, a double pressure inter-dentaltissue massaging device comprising a pair of finger-engaging cots, andcompressible resilient means carried by the opposed faces of the cotswhereby said resilient means may be forced in between adjacent teeth bypinching action of the fingers upon which the finger engaging cots arecarried and create a pressure longitudinally of the axis of the teethfrom the crest of the gums rootwise and consequently produce an effectupon the gums similar to that produced when chewing coarse food.

JOHN W. VOGAN.

